This Christmas was a wonderful time for our family. It would not have been so wonderful and blessed without the DELICIOUS Christmas dinner a family in the church made for us! We were so spoiled by incredible food! It really helped make the day seem more like Christmas. Without those items we would still have gotten together...but I wouldn't have been surprised at all had we ordered pizza or something...because it's just too much to try to have "all the fixins" AND care give for my dad AND keep an eye on the little ones (making sure Marcelo in particular doesn't switch all the dials on the cough assist machine, or anything else with buttons)!
As we knew would happen with ALS, my dad continues to decline. Some days it is hard for any of us to make out what he is saying because his speech is so slurred. Other days he is much easier to understand. Each day is different. In fact a morning can be quite different than an afternoon or evening.
He continues to enjoy listening to audio books, and watch tv....particularly football these days. And he has become an avid watcher of Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Previous to being bedridden he hardly took time to watch tv (unless it was 24). But, if he ever was in the room when Jeopardy or Millionaire was on he always knew the answers. Even now you can sometimes hear his slurred voice trying to get out the answer before the contestant does. =)
A prayer request we'd love to have you join us in is for an eye "mouse" to become available for dad. I'm not sure of the technical name for it, but he has this speaking computer that can speak on his behalf...but right now it requires touch. But there is this eye gaze piece that allows his eyes to be a mouse and click what he wants to say. He is next on the ALS Associations list to receive one should one be donated. He was supposed to receive one the end of November, but the family that donated it had some sort of family feud about it and it's ended up in the Kent Police station. As far as I know it is still there until the family works something out. Whether it is this particular eye gaze or a different one, it sure would be helpful in communicating with my dad.
Thanks for your prayers and support! Happy New Year!
Michelle
2 comments:
Thanks for the nice update, Michelle. We love Pastor Marc and pray for him and his family every night. We are aware of his condition and have avoided any attempt to visit him for two reasons: (1) we don't want to bring in any outside cold or flu virus and (2) we know that family has top priority for his time. I hope he is aware that we sang Part 1 of Handel's Messiah and the Hallelujah Chorus for our Christmas Program this year. It was beautiful and I wish he was there to see it. We missed him. We pray that God will continue to Bless Pastor Marc and all of you and keep you in good health. May God Bless You All,
Dennis and Mary Trepanier and Kids
Praying and following his health. Does CMC telecast their services so he can watch them on a computer hooked up to the TV? I have him on our prayers site. Too. Praying for you, too, Michelle. I hope he has a good birthday today. xoxo
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